Match Report: MP FC 2-4 Seaford Rock United
LSL Premier Superleague Group B
Seaford withstood a strong second half fightback from Montpelier to secure a hard-earned three points in this Superleague clash.
The pattern for the game was established in the early stages, as MP largely controlled possession, but it was the Penguins who created more dangerous opportunities on the break. Former Bohs and Bray Wanderers frontman Dave Scully let off a few early potshots which were comfortably dealt with by Gavin Nugent, before two quick goals put the visitors in a commanding position. First, after Mate Salacan hoisted a free kick into the danger area, Dave Lewis challenged bravely with keeper David O'Cpnnor, and when MP failed to clear it, David Mackey managed to prod the ball into the net via an opposing defender.
If the opener was awkward the second was slick as Ian Nolan released Lewis down the left, and his cross was deftly guided home by Stephen Canavan.
Scully went close to pulling one back on 23, running on to Ryan Taaffe's flick, and lobbing Nugent, but the ball bounced inches wide., and late in the half Brian Murphy did brilliantly at the back post to deny Peter Foran a tap-in from a Neil Murray square ball.
Half time saw MP introduce three new players off the bench and their performance quickly improved, and they gradually ratcheted up the pressure on the Seaford rearguard. On 63 minutes Nolan cleared off the line after brilliant play from substitute Darragh Quinn, with Kevin Dalton then clipping the angle of post and bar with his volleyed effort.
And just as the Penguins had done in the first half, MP then grabbed two quick goals to level the score. The first was a fluke, as Jake Thornton blocked Killian Campion's clearance and the ball somehow trickled into the corner of Nugent's goal. Then ,Seaford's defence was caught napping as Thornton's long pass forward from the back put Quinn clean through on goal, and the fleet-footed winger made it 2-2.
MP looked set to go on and claim all three point but then Seaford's own substitutions helped them regain some momentum. Conor Geoghegan put the Penguins back in front shortly after his introduction from the bench , and soon after he almost bagged a spectacular second, smashing an incredible left-footed volley off the woodwork.
But it was Canavan who eventually put the outcome beyond doubt, smashing home at the second attempt after his initial header was cleared off the line, making it eight points from four games for Seaford so far in Group B.
Seaford:, Gavin Nugent, Eoin McArdle (Joe O'Hara, 75), Brian Murphy (Owen Brayden, 72), Steve Kane, Ian Nolan, Mate Salacan (Conor Geoghegan, 66), Killian Campion, Dave Lewis, Jamie McCaul (Niall Holleran , 66), , David Mackey, Stephen Canavan (Cian McCabe, 83)
MPFC: David O'Connor, Evan Smith, Sean Fitzgerald, Sean Rafferty (Jonathan McDonald, h/t), Jake Thornton, Tomo Quinn (Ger Loftus, h/t), Peter Foran (Ger Brady , h/t), Kevin Dalton, David Scully, Ryan Taaffe (Gavin McManus, 78), Neil Murray (Darragh Quinn, 57)
DIT Grangegorman, 9 April 2021
The pattern for the game was established in the early stages, as MP largely controlled possession, but it was the Penguins who created more dangerous opportunities on the break. Former Bohs and Bray Wanderers frontman Dave Scully let off a few early potshots which were comfortably dealt with by Gavin Nugent, before two quick goals put the visitors in a commanding position. First, after Mate Salacan hoisted a free kick into the danger area, Dave Lewis challenged bravely with keeper David O'Cpnnor, and when MP failed to clear it, David Mackey managed to prod the ball into the net via an opposing defender.
If the opener was awkward the second was slick as Ian Nolan released Lewis down the left, and his cross was deftly guided home by Stephen Canavan.
Scully went close to pulling one back on 23, running on to Ryan Taaffe's flick, and lobbing Nugent, but the ball bounced inches wide., and late in the half Brian Murphy did brilliantly at the back post to deny Peter Foran a tap-in from a Neil Murray square ball.
Half time saw MP introduce three new players off the bench and their performance quickly improved, and they gradually ratcheted up the pressure on the Seaford rearguard. On 63 minutes Nolan cleared off the line after brilliant play from substitute Darragh Quinn, with Kevin Dalton then clipping the angle of post and bar with his volleyed effort.
And just as the Penguins had done in the first half, MP then grabbed two quick goals to level the score. The first was a fluke, as Jake Thornton blocked Killian Campion's clearance and the ball somehow trickled into the corner of Nugent's goal. Then ,Seaford's defence was caught napping as Thornton's long pass forward from the back put Quinn clean through on goal, and the fleet-footed winger made it 2-2.
MP looked set to go on and claim all three point but then Seaford's own substitutions helped them regain some momentum. Conor Geoghegan put the Penguins back in front shortly after his introduction from the bench , and soon after he almost bagged a spectacular second, smashing an incredible left-footed volley off the woodwork.
But it was Canavan who eventually put the outcome beyond doubt, smashing home at the second attempt after his initial header was cleared off the line, making it eight points from four games for Seaford so far in Group B.
Seaford:, Gavin Nugent, Eoin McArdle (Joe O'Hara, 75), Brian Murphy (Owen Brayden, 72), Steve Kane, Ian Nolan, Mate Salacan (Conor Geoghegan, 66), Killian Campion, Dave Lewis, Jamie McCaul (Niall Holleran , 66), , David Mackey, Stephen Canavan (Cian McCabe, 83)
MPFC: David O'Connor, Evan Smith, Sean Fitzgerald, Sean Rafferty (Jonathan McDonald, h/t), Jake Thornton, Tomo Quinn (Ger Loftus, h/t), Peter Foran (Ger Brady , h/t), Kevin Dalton, David Scully, Ryan Taaffe (Gavin McManus, 78), Neil Murray (Darragh Quinn, 57)
DIT Grangegorman, 9 April 2021